Gov. Yusuf Receives New POLAC Commandant, Pledges Continued Support

Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has assured the Police Academy, Wudil (POLAC), of the continued support and cooperation of the Kano State Government towards strengthening its operations and enhancing its contribution to police training and national security.

According to the statement by the Director General Media and Publicity Government House Kano,Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, Governor Yusuf gave the assurance when he received the newly appointed Commandant of the Police Academy, Wudil, AIG Auwal Musa Muhammad, who paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House, Kano.

The Governor said the Kano State Government maintained a cordial relationship with security agencies operating in the state and would continue to strengthen such partnerships in the interest of protecting the lives and property of the people.

He described POLAC as a renowned institution that plays an important role in the training and development of senior police officers who contribute significantly to policing and national security across the country.

Governor Yusuf congratulated the new Commandant on his appointment and expressed confidence that his experience and professional background would further contribute to the development of the academy.

Earlier, the new Commandant of POLAC, AIG Auwal Musa Muhammad, said he visited the Government House to formally introduce himself to the Governor and commend the Kano State Government for its continued attention to security matters.

AIG Muhammad said the academy would intensify its efforts in providing professional training for police officers in line with contemporary security requirements and the changing nature of policing.

Before his appointment as Commandant of POLAC, AIG Auwal Musa Muhammad served as the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone IX, with headquarters in Calabar.

The Commandant expressed appreciation to Governor Yusuf for receiving him and for the cooperation extended by the Kano State Government to security institutions and agencies operating in the state.

Gov. Yusuf Commissions Water Distribution From Goron Dutse Reservoir

The Executive Governor of Kano State, His Excellency Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has officially commissioned the commencement of water distribution from the Goron Dutse Reservoir, describing the development as a historic milestone for Kano State.

According to the statement by the Commissioner of Water Resources, Environment and Climate Change, Dr Dahiru Muhammad Hashim,  the commissioning on Monday, September 28, 2026, marks the return of the Goron Dutse Reservoir to active service after it remained abandoned and largely unused for more than 30 years.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf described the revival of the facility as a significant achievement for his administration and an important development for the people of Kano.

“This is a historic project for Kano State. The Goron Dutse Reservoir has been abandoned for more than 30 years, and today we are bringing it back into operation to serve the people of Kano,” the Governor said.

Governor Yusuf said restoring the facility was part of his administration’s broader effort to revive critical infrastructure and address longstanding challenges affecting residents of the state.

He explained that the commencement of water distribution from Goron Dutse would contribute to improving access to potable water across Kano metropolis and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to completing other critical water projects across the state.

On his part, the Commissioner for Water Resources, Environment and Climate Change, Dr. Dahiru Muhammad Hashim, said the commencement of distribution represents an important step towards improving the reliability of public water supply in Kano metropolis.

He said the Goron Dutse facility has a combined storage capacity of approximately 39.8 million litres, comprising three reservoirs with capacities of 10 million litres, 7.3 million litres and 22.5 million litres.

He added that water is currently being pumped from the Challawa Water Treatment Plant into the Goron Dutse reservoirs for distribution to communities across different parts of Kano metropolis.

Dr. Hashim commended Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf for prioritising the revival of the facility and providing the political and administrative support required to return the reservoir to service.

The ₦11 billion project, executed by CCECC, includes work on the Challawa Water Treatment Plant and the transmission system supplying Goron Dutse. The main transmission pipeline from Challawa to the Goron Dutse distribution station spans approximately 15.6 kilometres.

The project was originally scheduled for completion by December 2026, but the commencement of water distribution represents a major operational milestone achieved ahead of schedule.

The Commissioner reaffirmed his commitment to restoring critical infrastructure and expanding access to safe and reliable water for households, businesses and communities across the state.

Dry Taps Gone, Kano Flows Again: The Abba Yusuf Water Comeback - By Abba Anwar

It is evidently clear and on record to understand that Kano thirsty decade is ending, as how His Excellency the Governor of Kano State, Eng Abba Kabir Yusuf is turning 95 years of ruin into a N21.3 Billion revival. This is leadership, commitment, display of patriotic political will and understanding of complexities and peculiarities of human existence. 

What Kano is experiencing now, in terms of redirecting the water industry into human face, calls for global gist and account. For example in Cape Town, they called perennial shortage of water Day Zero - the day the taps would run dry. 

In Flint, Michigan, history tells us that it was a lead poisoning crisis that shocked America. While in Kano, Africa's most populous city, situated in Northern Nigeria, it was slower, quieter, and more painful. Very pathetic and heartbreaking, for over ten years, the taps simply stopped. No announcement. No Day Zero. Just air.

The history of Kano water sector reveals that the city needs 700 million litres of water every single day to survive. Until last year, it was getting less than 300 million. A deficit of 400 million litres. That is not a shortage; it is a systemic collapse. Mothers woke up at 4 a.m. to queue at boreholes. Children trekked kilometres with jerry cans. Industries shut down. Cholera whispered in the background.

Identification of problem didn't match with problem diagnosis. For years, successive administrations applied plaster to a cancer. The current administration of Governor Yusuf has chosen to perform open-heart surgery. A better and neater option. Surgical operation not plaster application. Which catches and punches the right button. 

And the heart is now beating again as the Governor means business and genuine service delivery. 

Kano’s 95-year-old legacy, which I term as The Soul of a City, is a deliberate presentation for proper 

understanding of the magnitude of what is happening now. Hence we must understand what was lost.

Kano's water story did not start yesterday. It started in 1927, when the British colonial administration, under Emir Abdullahi Bayero, broke ground for what would become the first waterworks in Northern Nigeria - the Challawa Water Works. Completed in 1930, with a modest 20 million litres per day, it was an engineering marvel of its time. It supplied Dorayi, Kabuga, Kofar Fanfo, Jan Bulo, Rijiyar Zaki, and even the Army Barracks in Janguza. It ran non-stop for 86 years.

Then came its younger brothers. The Old Tamburawa in 1986 - 9.6 million litres, later upgraded to 20 million. Then the New Tamburawa, a behemoth with a 150 million litre per day capacity. And anchoring them all, the legendary Goron Dutse reservoirs - five massive underground and surface reservoirs built between 1930 and 1974, with a combined storage of over 40 million litres. They were the lungs of Kano's distribution.

By whatever standard and estimation this was a system built by visionaries, with clearly defined vision. But it was, unfortunately, killed by neglect. Year in year out all the donkey years witnessed terrifying reality when city's lifeline was utterly and irresponsibly looted. 

To tell my reader that, that experience was worrying our Governor deeply even before he came on board, before he took the oath of office on May 29, 2023, he set up a powerful Committee of Experts to look into the perennial nature of the water industry. Immediately after he came on board his engineers gave him a report on water that read like a war zone assessment. 

Since then, when I discussed the concern with a friend from Darmanawa he quickly commended the effort and called for public support of the entire process and procedures. 

It was fundamentally clear that in Challawa, the scene was "pathetic and disheartening," in the official words of the Ministry. Out of six giant industrial generating sets that power the entire plant when the national grid fails, only two were limping. Water Works No. 1 and No. 2 were dead. No. 3 was gasping at 30% capacity. A call for action at whatever rate. 

Worse than decay was destruction. Raw water pumps were gone. Electrical starters ripped from control rooms. Underground electrical facilities stolen. And in an act that shocked even veteran engineers, a 15-kilometre, 15.6 kilometre underground transmission pipeline - the artery that feeds Challawa - was excavated and stolen. Not vandalised. Stolen. Some individuals even walked into the premises claiming the federal government had sold the waterworks to them. A brazen dishonesty of the highest order. 

At Goron Dutse, the story was even more symbolic. The reservoirs that had quenched Kano for nearly a century had not received a single drop of water for over ten years. Ten years! They were dry, cracked, and filled with silt. As bad as economies during conventional wars. Abandonment amid need for attention. 

The total cost of decay was put at over N30 billion. An administration in the past had spent N5.6 billion in just 11 months for "maintenance" but it was maintenance without a soul. As pipes were not replaced, reservoirs were not desilted, pumps were not procured. The result? Tamburawa, designed for 150 million litres, was doing 27%. Challawa, designed for 220 million, was doing less than 30%. Together, they should produce 370 million litres. They were producing less than 90 million.

To revive just Challawa, an official told journalists that the state would need $3.5 million, later revised to over $10 million, because the 1930-era machines have to be custom-built in Europe on demand. They are not on any shelf in the world.

This is the rot Governor Yusuf inherited. To me, Governor Yusuf's political will is doctrinal with no match in sight. Unmatched political will. It is glaring for all to know that great cities are not revived by press releases. They are revived by political will. This is where His Excellency separates himself from every administration in the last decade.

He did not send a committee. He went himself. Since from the start of the good re-engineering touch of the water facilities. For example just yesterday, he and his able Deputy H.E. Murtala Sule Garo alongside other top government functionaries visited water projects that are almost ready for good operations. 

In a now-famous inspection tour, Governor Yusuf, in rain boots, walked the length of Challawa and Tamburawa with engineers from CGC Nigeria Limited and CCECC Nigeria Limited - the same Chinese engineering giants building Africa's biggest dams and railways. He saw the leaking pipes. He saw the obsolete clarifiers. He saw the dead high-lift pumps. And there, on the spot, he made a decision that will define his legacy.

He approved without any hesitation, the sum of N21.29 billion. Wow! the single largest water investment in Kano in 15 years. Leadership by example. Viva our dear Governor Viva. 

Not N21.89 billion in rumour. N21.29 billion in signed contracts. With N9.9 billion to CGC Nigeria Limited for the total rehabilitation of Tamburawa Water Treatment Plant and its raw water pump station. The sum of N11.39 billion to CCECC Nigeria Limited for the rehabilitation of Challawa Raw Water Pump Station, its treatment plant, and the total restoration of the Goron Dutse reservoirs. Action! Action!! Action!!! 

This is not rehabilitation on paper. This is what is happening on the ground right now, as confirmed by Dr. Dahiru Muhammad Hashim, Acting Commissioner for Water Resources, Environment and Climate Change. That:

1. The critical 15.6-kilometre transmission line to Goron Dutse has been restored with modern ductile steel pipes, replacing the 1970s asbestos pipes that were poisoning the system.

2. Goron Dutse reservoirs have been fully desilted and repaired.

3. Clarifiers, filtration units, manifolds, and high-lift pumps have been restored.

4. Ten high-capacity 110-kilowatt pumps have been procured.

5. A full test run was completed in mid-September.

And beyond the metropolis, the Governor is doing what no one did - reviving the dead. Nine out of Kano's 19 dormant regional water schemes are under restoration. Guzugu in Kabo is flowing. Joda in Gabasawa is flowing. Wudil Waterworks, dead for years, is alive. For the first time, rural Kano is part of the water equation. Government for all sections of the state. 

On September 21, 2026, the Ministry officially announced: expanded distribution of potable water would commence within few days to come. All are waiting patiently Your Excellency Sir! 

Why Kano must attract global communities? From London to Lagos, water is politics. The UN says water scarcity will displace 700 million people by 2030. What Governor Yusuf has done is a case study in how to reverse it without World Bank loans, without privatising your heritage.

He did not outsource the problem. He funded the solution. He did not blame the past. He fixed the future. Sometime in the past I spoke to Malam Musa in Tarauni, he was lamenting all over. When asked again, now, he simply smiles that Governor Yusuf is on the top of the situation. This is courageous. 

When the taps in Kofar Mata sputter and then gush, when a child in Dala drinks from the tap for the first time in his life, when Goron Dutse reservoirs hold water again after a 10-year drought, Kano will not just be celebrating water. Kano will be celebrating a Governor who proved that a 95-year-old dream, buried under silt, stolen pipes, and failed promises, can still flow. 

That is not just governance. That is unmatched and unwavering political will in action. 

KANO FLOWS AGAIN UNDER GOVERNOR YUSUF! 

Viva Kano. Viva Abba Gida-Gida.

Anwar writes from Kano 

Tuesday, 29th September, 2026

Ganduje congratulates Abba on NECO performance, says progress builds on solid foundation

Former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Governor of Kano State, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has congratulated the government and people of Kano on the state’s strong performance in the 2026 National Examinations Council (NECO) Senior School Certificate Examination, saying the achievement demonstrates the value of sustained investment and policy continuity in education.

According to statement by the Chief of Staff to former APC National Chairman, Comrade Muhammad Garba, Kano recorded the highest number of candidates meeting the benchmark of at least five credits, including English Language and Mathematics, with 74,413 candidates, ahead of Lagos with 72,496 and Oyo with 55,543. The feat marks Kano’s second consecutive year at the top of the NECO performance chart on this measure.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday by his Chief of Staff, Comrade Muhammad Garba, Ganduje described the development as encouraging and a positive signal for the future of education in Kano and the wider northern region.

He said the latest result showed that “progress builds on a solid foundation,” noting that sustained investment, continuity of policy and commitment by successive administrations could produce measurable improvements in the education sector.

Ganduje acknowledged the efforts of the present administration in Kano, under Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, particularly increased budgetary allocations to education, sponsorship of students for NECO and other examinations, recruitment of teachers and renovation of schools.

He, however, stressed that the latest achievement should be viewed within the broader context of successive investments and reforms in the state’s education sector.

According to him, his administration contributed to that foundation through the implementation of free and compulsory basic education, the establishment of Education Promotion Committees from the state to ward levels, strengthening of the State Education Trust Fund, infrastructure development and teacher training across the 44 local government areas.

“Kano’s performance is not accidental. It is the outcome of continuity in policy and deliberate investment, with the present administration building on what was already on ground. This is how development should work,” Ganduje said.

He congratulated the students, teachers, parents, school administrators and other stakeholders whose efforts contributed to the result, urging them to sustain the momentum and ensure that Kano remains competitive in national educational assessments.

Ganduje also called for education to be insulated from partisan politics, saying achievements in the sector should be regarded as a collective success belonging to the people of Kano rather than any particular political administration.

He urged successive governments to continue strengthening policies and programmes that improve access to quality education, teacher capacity and learning infrastructure.

Governor Yusuf Unveils 50 Vehicles Donated to APC Campaign in Kano

Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has unveiled 50 vehicles donated by Chief Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, to support the campaign activities of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State.

In a statement signed by the Director General Media and Publicity Government House Kano, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, the vehicles were presented in Kano as part of efforts to support the party’s mobilisation activities across the 44 Local Government Areas of the state.

Governor Yusuf said the vehicles would be distributed to the 44 local government areas to facilitate campaign mobilisation and grassroots engagement.

He said mobility was essential to effective political campaigns and would enable party officials to engage with communities across the state.

The governor said the state government was also implementing infrastructure and other development programmes aimed at improving the welfare and living conditions of residents.

In his remarks, Chief Pondi Kestin, who represented Chief Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo, said the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Door-to-Door Movement was established to promote awareness of the policies, programmes and projects of the Federal Government.

He said the movement was focused on grassroots engagement and explaining government initiatives to Nigerians.

Chief Kestin said the organisation would continue its mobilisation and engagement activities ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Gov. Yusuf Backs Rotational Presidency Between North and South

Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has called for the continued rotation of presidential power between the northern and southern parts of Nigeria.

According to the Statement by the Director General Media and Publicity Government House Kano, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, Governor Yusuf made the call on Sunday at the Government House, Kano, while unveiling 50 vehicles donated by Chief Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, to support APC campaign mobilisation in Kano ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He said his position was based on the principle that presidential power should rotate between the North and South, with each region given the opportunity to produce a president for two consecutive terms.

According to Governor Yusuf, allowing each region to complete two terms would provide sufficient time for an administration to implement major policies, programmes and development projects.

He therefore called for support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to complete a second term, arguing that this would allow the South to complete its two-term cycle before power returns to the North.

Governor Yusuf urged political stakeholders, particularly in the North, to exercise patience and allow the current political arrangement to run its course, saying power would return to the North after the completion of the southern region’s two-term cycle in 2031.

He said rotational presidency should be viewed as a means of promoting fairness, national cohesion, mutual trust and a sense of belonging among Nigerians from different parts of the country.

The governor also urged politicians and political parties to conduct peaceful and issue-based campaigns ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He called on political actors to focus on policies, programmes and development plans rather than personal attacks, inflammatory rhetoric or actions capable of undermining peace.

Governor Yusuf reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to peaceful democratic engagement and urged all stakeholders to place the unity, peace and development of Kano State and Nigeria above partisan differences.

KNSG Restricts Durbar Procession And Horse - Riding Activities

The Kano State Government has henceforth, imposed a restriction on all forms of Durbar processions and horse-riding activities within the Kano metropolis until further notice.

According to the Statement by the Director General Media and Publicity Government House Kano, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, the decision followed an emergency meeting of the State Security Council held at the Government House, Kano, where the security situation surrounding the planned activities was reviewed.

The State Security Council resolved to take precautionary measures to prevent any possible confrontation, preserve public order, and avoid any potential loss of lives or damage to property.

The Government stated that security assessments indicated significant mobilisation of supporters in connection with the planned activities, creating concerns about possible clashes and a breakdown of law and order.

In view of its constitutional responsibility to safeguard lives and property and maintain peace and public order, the State Security Council directed that the planned Durbar processions and horse-riding activities be suspended.

Accordingly, all relevant security agencies in the state have been directed to enforce the restriction and take appropriate lawful action against anyone found violating the directive or engaging in conduct capable of threatening public peace and security.

The Kano State Government urges all residents, traditional institutions, political actors, supporters, and other stakeholders to remain calm, peaceful, and law-abiding and to comply fully with the directive.

The Government assures the people of Kano State that all necessary measures are being taken to protect lives and property and maintain peace and public order across the state.

Kano Tops Nigerian States in 2026 NECO Examination....

....As Governor Yusuf Commends Students, Reaffirms Sustained Investment in Education 

Kano State has emerged as the leading state among the 36 su nationals of the federation in the 2026 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) conducted by the National Examinations Council (NECO).

According to the statement by the Director General Media and Publicity Government House Kano, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, the state recorded 74,413 candidates who obtained at least five credits, including English Language and Mathematics, placing Kano ahead of other states, Lagos as second with 72,496 candidates and Oyo came third with 55,543 candidates. 

The performance marks the second consecutive year that Kano has topped the NECO national performance chart, after recording the highest number of candidates with five credits, including English and Mathematics in the 2025 examination.

Reacting to the development, Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, commended the students, teachers, parents and other stakeholders for the outstanding performance.

Governor Yusuf said the back-to-back performance was an indication that the state’s sustained investment in education was producing measurable results. 

Kano has maintained the first position in NECO twice in a row making the state as the leading SSCE performer for the two consecutive years, (2025 and 2026) respectively.

He assured the people of Kano that his administration would continue to prioritise education through increased funding, improved learning facilities, teacher recruitment and training, scholarships and support for indigent students.

As part of the interventions, the state government spent over N4.4 billion in 2026 to sponsor candidates for Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination, particularly indigent students.

The Governor, said the intervention was designed to remove financial barriers and enable students to participate in the examinations under better conditions.

He said the latest NECO result was a continuation of the improvement recorded by Kano students under the present administration.

Education has consistently received the largest share of Kano State’s budget under Governor Yusuf over shooting the UNESCO benchmark.

In 2024, education accounted for about 29.95 per cent of the state budget. The allocation increased to N168.35 billion, representing 31 per cent, in the 2025 budget.

For 2026, the state allocated N405.35 billion to education, representing about 30 per cent of the N1,478, 829, 666, 130. 71 trillion budget.

The Governor said the investment goes beyond examination sponsorship to include classroom renovation, teacher recruitment, learning materials, uniforms, scholarships and other interventions aimed at improving the quality of education.

The administration’s education policies have also attracted recognition at national and international levels, with Kano fast becoming a leading education reform hub in sub-Saharan Africa. 

In 2024, Governor Yusuf received the Leadership Newspaper Governor of the Year Award for Education, while New Telegraph recognised him for educational development Governor of the year. The Nigeria Union of Teachers also named him its Teachers’ Friendly Governor of the Year for 2024.

In 2025, Blueprint Newspaper recognised Governor Yusuf as Governor of the Year for Education at the paper’s national conference in Abuja. While This Nigeria newspaper awarded him as courageous Governor of the year 2024.

His administration also received education-related recognition at International space in London and Paris 2026, for its commitment to education with international literacy and learning award and the education spending award by the Universal Learning Solution and City University, Paris respectively.

Other national recognitions include the Vanguard Governor of the Year Award for Good Governance in 2024, the BusinessDay Governor of the Year Award in 2025, and African Governor of the year award by the African Leadership Magazine in Casablanca-Morocco.

Governor Yusuf dedicated the latest NECO achievement to the students, teachers, parents and people of Kano State, assuring them that the government would sustain its investment in education.

He said the objective was to build an education system capable of providing Kano’s young people with the knowledge and skills required for higher education, employment, innovation and leadership as Kano has recorded over Five Million School children in the last annual school census.

Governor Yusuf Condoles with A.A. Zaura Over Death of Grandmother-in-Law

Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has condoled with Alhaji Abdussalam AAbdulkarim (AA Zaura)and his family over the death of Hajiya Hauwa Waziri, popularly known as Mamaye, who passed away in Abuja at the age of 90.

In a statement by the Director General Media and Publicity Government House Kano, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, Hajiya Hauwa Waziri was the grandmother of A.A. Zaura’s wife and was described as an elderly woman who lived a long and remarkable life.

Governor Yusuf paid a condolence visit to A.A. Zaura at his residence in Abuja, where he conveyed his sympathy to the family over the loss.

The Governor said the death of an elderly member of the family, particularly one who had lived for almost nine decades, was a painful moment for the family and loved ones.

He urged the family to take solace in the long life lived by the deceased and the memories she left behind.

Governor Yusuf prayed to Allah to forgive Hajiya Hauwa Waziri’s shortcomings, accept her good deeds and grant her Aljannatul Firdaus.

He also prayed to Allah to give A.A. Zaura, his wife and other members of the family the strength and fortitude to bear the loss.

The Governor further extended his condolences to relatives, friends and all those who mourned the deceased, urging them to continue praying for her eternal repose.

The Governor was accompanied by former Kano state governor Sen. Arc. Kabiru Ibrahim Gaya and Member, Gaya, Ajingi and Albasu Hon. Dr. Ghali Mustapha Tijjani 

Task Force to Movement : Inside Muhuyi’s Exco Presentation - By Abba Anwar

- As parents take their wards to Muhuyi for behavior correction 

Without cutting corners, when the Chairman of Kano State Multi-Agency Task Force on Drug Abuse and other Related Crimes, Barrister Muhuyi Magaji Rimingado, made an excellent presentation of the Task Force's scorecard before the State Executive Council meeting, Thursday, in Abuja Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf commended the effort with unwavering kudos. 

The former Deputy Governor of the state Engineer Abdullahi T. M. Gwarzo and former Speaker of the State Assembly, Right Honourable Kabiru Alassan Rurum, alongside the 44 LG Chairmen through the Chairman of Gaya LG, Mahmoud Tajo Gaya endorsed all the operations so far. They all praised the Task Force for its courage and visible impact.

Another milestone in Barrister Rimingado's patriotic operations and engagements, is how parents started entrusting him with their children. They have started accepting the fact that, the Task Force is here to correct anomalies in the behavior of their wards.

One of such confidence was a case of one mother who took her child of less than 20 years of age to the office of the Chairman, Barrister Rimingado and lodged a serious complaint against her own biological son. She handed him over to the Task Force seeking for help from government, to force her son sit up. This scenario shook many. 

Of good result, was how the Chairman accepted the request and assured that government would do everything possible to rehabilitate the son. He promised that the boy would not be taken to court for conviction. May be probably he wasn't caught in action. But would be taken to rehabilitation centre for behavior rehabilitation purpose. 

Also adding a grassroots voice, the Chairman of Gaya during Barrister Rimingado's presentation at the Council Chamber rcommended the feat but urged the Task Force to design strategies that extend beyond metropolitan Kano to rural local governments. They assured that they all appreciate the good result seen in the metropolis. As such open vices are drastically reduced in just two months period of the Task Force operations.

When he addressed the State Executive Council he came with more than a speech. He came with results. His presentation indicated that his assignment is more than a Task Force, but a movement. His isn't a political movement, but far beyond that. 

His is a well coordinated social movement. That changes long held diluted way of thinking. With Barrister Rimingado's unwavering and committed effort, and with Governor Yusuf's patriotic political will, Kano is winning the war against drug abuse and other related crimes. 

What he presented was a holistic scorecard before the State Executive Council. The faces and comments of the Exco members informed my decision of naming it "A Council Of Endorsement." They follow the exact footsteps of His Excellency the Governor in this all-sides fight against the long disturbing menace. 

Principally the Governor commended the Task Force for breaking inter-agency walls and replacing rivalry with synergy - bringing NDLEA, Police, DSS, NSCDC, Correctional Service, Hisbah, KAROTA and other agencies under one roof to achieve a drug-free Kano in line with his "Abba Gida-Gida and Kano First Agenda." That is taking societal reorientation to individual households, Gida-Gida methodology. Which becomes a model. 

The endorsement of the Task Force by the Governor and Exco members was a clear call for the citizens to always cooperate and support the effort. That call aligns perfectly with the Task Force's own roadmap. As Rimingado stated in his briefing, "We have taken our message to the nooks and crannies of the state - schools, markets, motor parks, religious houses - because prevention is better and cheaper than cure."

It is important to note that, two months after its inauguration on 22nd July 2026, the Task Force has delivered what many administrations only promised - a coordinated, aggressive and humane offensive against drugs and related crimes. As natural and committed as it appears, this fight gives sense of direction and ownership to Governor Yusuf's administration in setting pace for progress and development. 

The figures, of seizure and achievements listed before the Council members, are unprecedented. 

It is important to note that, a series of joint strategic dislodgment operations across notorious black spots - Race Course, Filin Idi, Filin Mahaha, Tashar Rami, Kawo, Tashar Rimi and many others across the metropolis and beyond - the Task Force did an examplary engagement of forces against the menace. 

It has arrested over 380 suspects and recovered a frightening cache of illicit substances: Cannabis Sativa, Exol-5, Diazepam, Pentazocine Injection, Methamphetamine designer drugs, Tramadol, Suck and Die, Rubber Solution and Pregabalin capsules. This is what I term From Black Spots To Courtrooms. 

More telling is the speed of justice. The Task Force Chairman disclosed to the hearing of the Governor and other Exco members that, over 230 convictions have already been secured in just two months. A clear signal to display that this is not business as usual.

The operations also yielded in seizing dangerous locally made weapons - knives, cutlasses, daggers and clubs - used by drug dealers and thugs to terrorize citizens and resist arrest. Rimingado charges the narrative. What is needed now is continuous support from the Governor, for sustainable operations and achievements. As people also need to be cooperative and supportive. 

It is highly terrifying to understand what the Chairman described as a matter of serious concern as a result of their deeply rooted operations. As he disclosed that the Task Force seized about 870,000 capsules of Pregabalin from a leading pharmaceutical company in the state, suspected to have been diverted for illicit use.

Rimingado warned that no pharmaceutical company, pharmacy manager or superintendent pharmacist found culpable in diverting controlled drugs to the streets will be spared.

In what can best be describe as features of urbanization and sound more chilling was the conviction of two rubber solution dealers, Kabiru Isa (Mada) and Usman Hamisu (Mani), for exposing 43 underage children engaged in street scavenging to intoxicants instead of paying them. The 43 children have been rescued, medically examined, and are undergoing counselling and treatment while efforts are on to reunite them with their families.

Barrister Rimingado touches areas that are more disturbing and frustrating in the related crimes. 

That is in line with its expanded mandate against related crimes, the Task Force has taken the war to the heart of thuggery (DABA). Notorious gang members including Abdullahi Ahmad (Horror), Abubakar Sada (Daburi), Abdullahi Sani (Sarki Ale) and Umar Aliyu - some of whom brazenly promote violence on social media - have been arrested and convicted.

In another landmark breakthrough, the Task Force smashed the notorious phone-snatching syndicate known as "Yan Liya" which uses Tricycle (A Daidaita Sahu) for operations. Beyond conviction of the suspects, the Task Force secured forfeiture of their operational tricycles. He as well issued a stern warning to tricycle owners who knowingly double their daily returns by releasing their machines for criminality: the rider will be arrested and the machine forfeited.

In what displays a no-nonsense posture, the Task Force also charged the former Chairman of Rogo Local Government, Yahuza Musa, before a competent court for illegal administration of Pentazocine Injection to a 63-year-old woman, following a complaint corroborated by a 24-year-old youth who claimed he spent over Ten Million Naira and a plot of land on the same injection from the former Chairman.

The other side of enforcement that sheds more light on Kano’s model and other interventions elsewhere is the issue of rehabilitation. What distinguishes this Task Force is its balance of kinetic and non-kinetic approaches. While enforcement is aggressive, prevention and healing remain central. Modern technique of operations. 

Barrister Rimingado disclosed before the Council members that about 125 individuals have been referred for rehabilitation at the Kano Reformatory Institute, Kiru, and that due to massive public acceptance - with families now voluntarily bringing their wards - the Kiru facility is filled to capacity.

Responding to this situation swiftly, Governor Yusuf has provided an additional facility in Tofa Local Government as an extension to ensure no one who seeks help is turned away.

The ultimate target, according to the Chairman, is "... to sweep 10,000 youths off the streets, rehabilitate them, equip them with skills acquisition and reintegrate them as reformed, trusted members of society. Stakeholders in the industrial sector are already being engaged to create employment pathways for them."

Of much interest is the understanding that the feats in the last two months indicated that the war on drugs can be won when there is political will, inter-agency synergy, and leadership with integrity.

Look at it this way, 380 arrests. Over 230 convictions. 870,000 diverted capsules intercepted. 43 children rescued. Notorious DABA gangs convicted. YAN LIYA syndicate dismantled. 125 youths in rehabilitation. A new facility in Tofa. And a target of 10,000 youths for full reintegration. Reason why I said it is no longer just a Task Force. It is a movement.

If sustained, from the look of things it will, Kano will not only become drug-free; it will provide Nigeria with a template on how to confront drug abuse head-on - with justice, compassion, and resolve.

Just as his first intention that clearly indicates, His Excellency the Governor assured the Task Force that he would continue playing his role very well to make sure that the Task Force succeeds. Political will at its best position.

As gratifying as it appears a situation where parents are taking their children to authorities for either conviction, rehabilitation or both, is a clear case of public acceptance and support.

Viva Governor Yusuf 

Viva Kano State

Viva Muhuyi 

Anwar writes from Kano 

Saturday, 26th September, 2026

Gov. Yusuf Mourns former MD KNARDA Malam Sani Shawai, condoles with Family

Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has expressed deep sorrow over the death of Malam Sani Shawai, a respected elder, education administrator and former Managing Director of the Kano Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (KNARDA).

In a statement by the Director General Media and Publicity Government House Kano, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, the Governor also extended his heartfelt condolences to the deceased’s children, including Ibrahim Sani Shawai, journalist and former spokesperson of KEDCO; Kamaluddeen Sani Shawai, the Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly; and Muhammad Bello Sani Shawai of DW Radio.

Malam Sani Shawai, who died at the age of 85 was a former teacher and education officer who served in the old Kano State, he devoted many years to education and public service. He was survived by three wives, children and numerous grandchildren.

The Governor described the deceased as a distinguished elder whose long life was marked by service to humanity, commitment to education and dedication to his family and community.

He prayed to Almighty Allah to forgive his shortcomings, reward his good deeds and grant him Aljannatul Firdaus.

Governor Yusuf further prayed for Allah to grant the family, relatives, colleagues and associates of the deceased the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

Governor Yusuf Charges 27 Special Advisers on Loyalty, Commitment Ahead of 2027

Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has charged the newly appointed 27 Special Advisers to demonstrate loyalty, commitment and steadfastness in the discharge of their responsibilities.

According to the statement by the Director General Media and Publicity Government House Kano, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, the Governor urged them to support the administration in achieving the objectives of the Kano First Agenda and the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Governor Yusuf gave the charge on Thursday during the swearing-in of the appointees at the 41st Executive Council Meeting held at the Government House, Abuja.

The Governor said 21 of the appointees were newly appointed, while six were reappointed after resigning from their positions to pursue political ambitions.

He said the reappointed advisers retained their portfolios based on their performance and contributions to the administration.

The reappointed officials are Hon. Gambo Sallau, Musa Ado Tsamiya, Dr. Danyaro Yakasai, Usman Bala Muhammad, Danladi Karfi and Umar Musa Gama.

Governor Yusuf said the 21 new appointees were selected based on merit, proven track records and commitment to the objectives of his administration.

The new appointees include Bello Nuhu Bello, Yahuza Adamu Yankaba, Ahmad Muhammad Aruwa, Buhari Sule Kura, Mustapha Buhari Bakwana, Hajiya Aisha Tamburawa, Abdulkadir Auwalu, Alawiyya Farouk and Ibrahim Hamisu Rimi.

Others are Ahmad Tijani Musa, Nasir Abdullahi Karaye, Mustapha Abdullahi Rabiu, Engr. Abdullahi Kutama, Hon. Ado Rabiu, Barr. Munir Dahiru Rimin Gado, Engr. Magaji Lambu, Muhammad Bashir Baffa, Auwalu Ibrahim Danzabuwa, Bello Lawan Bello, Abdulsamiu Tiamiu and Arc. Hauwa Hassan.

Governor Yusuf congratulated the appointees and urged them to give their best in the service of the people of Kano State.

Speaking on behalf of the appointees, Engr. Abdullahi Kutama and Arc. Hauwa Hassan assured the Governor of their commitment to their responsibilities.

The inauguration was witnessed by former Deputy Governor Abdullahi Gwarzo, former Secretary to the State Government Rabiu Sulaiman Bichi, and the Managing Director of the Hadejia-Jama’are River Basin Development Authority, among others.

Governor Yusuf Receives Multiple Awards for Good Governance and Sectoral Performance

Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has received multiple awards and recognitions in honour of his administration’s achievements in good governance and development across various sectors of the state.

According to the statement signed by the Director General Media and Publicity Government House Kano, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, the awards were presented during the 41st Executive Council Meeting held  At Governor’s lodge, Aminu Kano House, Abuja, where Governor Yusuf expressed appreciation to the various organisations for recognising the efforts of his administration.

The Governor assured the people of Kano State that his administration would continue to deliver the dividends of democracy through people-oriented policies, transparency, accountability and sustainable development.

He noted that the organisations and institutions presenting the awards had assessed various physical development projects and initiatives being implemented by his administration, as well as the administration’s efforts to promote accountability and transparency in governance.

Presenting four of the awards received by the Governor on different occasions, Deputy Governor Alhaji Murtala Sule Garo said the recognitions reflected the appreciation of various organisations for the administration’s performance across different sectors.

Among the awards presented by the Deputy Governor were an Award of Excellence from the Northwest Veteran Foundation, the BusinessDay Governor of the Year Award, an Award of Excellence from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during its National Day celebration, and an award from the National Qur’anic Memorisation Association.

The BusinessDay Governor of the Year Award was presented to Governor Yusuf under the States Competitiveness and Investment Readiness Awards (SCIRA), in recognition of his administration’s achievements in governance, economic development and investment readiness.

Another award recognising good performance in revenue generation was presented to Governor Yusuf by the Chief of Staff, Dr. Sulaiman Wali Sani, on behalf of the Nigerian Revenue Service, following a recent retreat held in Kano.

The Chief of Staff also received an Award of Excellence on behalf of Governor Yusuf from the Forum of Islamic Secretaries of the 44 Local Government Areas of Kano State during the launching of the Islamic Calendar by the Kano State Sharia Commission.

The award recognised the administration’s support for Islamic activities across the state.

The National Bureau of Statistics also honoured the Governor in recognition of Kano State’s hosting of a conference and its performance in the sector. The award was received on his behalf by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Umar Farouk Ibrahim.

In the health sector, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran, presented a letter of appreciation to Governor Yusuf from the Dental Workers Union in recognition of his administration’s support and interventions in the health sector.

In the education sector, principals and volunteer teachers of the Kano State Agency for Mass Education also honoured the Governor for his support and commitment to adult and literacy education.

The award was jointly received on behalf of the Governor by the Secretary to the State Government and the Commissioner for Education during the International Adult and Literacy Conference held recently in Kano.

Governor Yusuf dedicated the recognitions to the people of Kano State, members of the State Executive Council, the legislature, judiciary, traditional and religious institutions, civil servants, development partners and other stakeholders contributing to the development of the state.

The presentation was witnessed by several personalities, including the member representing Doguwa/Tudun Wada Federal Constituency, Hon. Alhassan Doguwa; Hon. Alhassan Rurum; Abdullahi T Gwarzo and Rabiu Suleiman Bichi, 

the 27 newly appointed Special Advisers; and other government functionaries.

Governor Yusuf Celebrates ATM Gwarzo at 66

Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has congratulated the former Deputy Governor and State Coordinator of Arewa For Asiwaju (A4A) in Kano State, His Excellency Abdullahi Tijjani Muhammad Gwarzo, on the occasion of his 66th birthday.

Governor Yusuf described Gwarzo as an experienced leader, mentor and grassroots politician whose years of service have contributed significantly to the political and social development of Kano State.

The Governor acknowledged his wealth of experience, generosity, tolerance and ability to build relationships across different sections of society, describing these qualities as valuable attributes of responsible leadership.

He also congratulated Gwarzo on his recent appointment as the State Coordinator of Arewa For Asiwaju (A4A) in Kano State, expressing confidence that his experience, maturity and grassroots acceptability would contribute to effective coordination and purposeful engagement in the new assignment.

Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf prayed to Almighty Allah to grant Abdullahi Gwarzo many years in good health, wisdom, peace of mind and renewed strength to continue contributing to the development of Kano State and the nation in general.

He wished him a happy 66th birthday and continued success in his future endeavours.

Kwanitin Yaki Da Shan Muyagun Kwayoyi Na Kano, Ya Kama Mutane Fiye Da 380, Ya Samu Samu Hukuncin Kotu Kan Mutane 230 Cikin Watanni Biyu

Rundunar hadin gwiwar hukumomi da gwamnatin Jihar Kano ta kafa domin yaki da shaye-shayen miyagun ƙwayoyi da fataucin miyagun ƙwayoyi ta kama mutane sama da 380 tare da samun hukuncin kotu kan mutane fiye da 230 cikin watanni biyu da fara aiki.

Shugaban rundunar, Muhuyi Magaji Rimin Gado, ne ya bayyana hakan a ranar Talata, watanni biyu bayan da Gwamna Abba Kabir Yusuf ya kaddamar da rundunar domin daidaita matakan jihar na yaki da shaye-shayen miyagun ƙwayoyi, fataucin miyagun ƙwayoyi, daba da sauran laifukan da ke da alaka da shaye-shaye.

Da yake magana a wani taron manema labarai a Kano, Muhuyi ya ce rundunar ta gudanar da samame na hadin gwiwa a wuraren da ake zargin ana sayarwa da shan miyagun ƙwayoyi da kuma wasu wuraren da ake aikata laifuka, lamarin da ya kai ga kama wadanda ake zargi tare da kwato miyagun ƙwayoyi daban-daban.

Ya ce wuraren da aka gudanar da ayyukan sun hada da Race Course, Filin Idi, Filin Mahaha, Tashar Rami da Kawo, da sauran wurare a cikin birnin Kano da wajen sa.

A cewarsa, an kwato abubuwa da suka hada da Cannabis Sativa, Exol-5, Diazepam, allurar Pentazocine, Tramadol, kapsul din Pregabalin, Rubber Solution da sauran miyagun abubuwa.

Muhuyi ya ce: “Wannan ba aikin tarwatsa wuraren bane kawai. Wadannan samame sun kai ga kama mutane sama da 380 tare da kwato miyagun abubuwa iri-iri.”

Rundunar ta kuma kwato makamai da aka kera a gida, ciki har da wuka, adda, takubba da sanduna, wadanda Muhuyi ya ce wasu daga cikin masu safarar miyagun ƙwayoyi da ’yan daba ke amfani da su wajen tsoratar da jama’a da kuma bijirewa jami’an tsaro yayin kama su.

Wani babban abin damuwa da aka bayyana a taron shi ne zargin karkatar da magungunan da aka kayyade daga hanyoyin rarraba magunguna na halal zuwa amfani ba bisa ka’ida ba.

Muhuyi ya bayyana cewa rundunar ta kwace kusan kapsul din Pregabalin 870,000 daga hannun daya daga cikin manyan kamfanonin magunguna a jihar bisa zargin karkatar da su zuwa amfani ba bisa ka’ida ba.

Ya gargadi kamfanonin magunguna, manajojin pharmacy, superintendent pharmacists da sauran ma’aikatan fannin da su kara karfafa tsarin kula da magunguna tare da ba da hadin kai ga bincike.

“Ba za mu bar kowa ba idan aka same shi da laifi,” in ji shi.

Shugaban rundunar ya kuma bayyana cewa an riga an samu hukuncin kotu kan mutane sama da 230 a cikin shari’o’in da rundunar ta kai gaban kotu cikin watanni biyu.

Daga cikin shari’o’in akwai hukuncin da aka yanke wa wasu dillalan Rubber Solution, Kabiru Isa, wanda aka fi sani da Mada, da Usman Hamisu, wanda aka fi sani da Mani, bisa zargin jefa yara 43 da ba su kai shekaru ba cikin amfani da abubuwan maye.

Muhuyi ya ce yaran, wadanda ke aikin kwashe shara a kan tituna, ana zargin ana ba su Rubber Solution da wasu abubuwa masu maye maimakon a biya su yadda ya kamata.

Ya ce an ceto yaran 43 tare da yi musu gwaje-gwajen lafiya, ba su shawarwari da kuma magani, yayin da ake ci gaba da kokarin gano iyalansu.

Ya kara da cewa an riga an mayar da wasu daga cikin yaran ga iyalansu.

Rundunar ta kuma bayyana ci gaba a yakin da take yi da Daba, inda Muhuyi ya ambaci wasu daga cikin ’yan kungiyoyin daba da aka samu da laifi, ciki har da Abdullahi Ahmad, wanda aka fi sani da Horror; Abubakar Sada, wanda aka fi sani da Daburi; Abdullahi Sani, wanda aka fi sani da Sarki Ale; da Umar Aliyu.

Ya ce wasu daga cikin wadanda ake zargin sun yi amfani da kafafen sada zumunta wajen daukaka dabi’un daba, tunzura jama’a da kuma karfafa wasu su shiga ayyukan laifi.

A wani samame kuma, rundunar ta ce ta kama tare da samun hukuncin kotu kan wani mamba na wata fitacciyar kungiyar masu satar wayoyin hannu da aka fi sani da “Yan Liya”, tare da kwace wani keke mai kafa uku (tricycle) da ake zargin an yi amfani da shi wajen aikata laifin.

A cewar Muhuyi, wanda ake zargin ya amsa cewa ba zai iya kirga adadin wayoyin da kungiyar ta sata ba.

Ya kuma yi zargin cewa wasu masu tricycle din da kungiyar ke amfani da su suna sane da ayyukan laifin da direbobinsu ke aikatawa, har ma suna cin gajiyar hakan ta hanyar neman karin kudin da za a ba su.

Saboda haka, Muhuyi ya gargadi masu tricycle da kada su bari a yi amfani da motocinsu wajen aikata laifuka da gangan, yana mai cewa rundunar za ta nemi kwace motocin da aka yi amfani da su wajen aikata laifuka.

Baya ga matakan hukunci, rundunar ta ce ta tura kimanin mutane 125 zuwa Cibiyar Gyaran Halayya ta Kano da ke Kiru domin samun horo da gyaran hali.

Muhuyi ya ce karuwar bukatar samun kulawar gyaran hali ta sa cibiyar Kiru ta cika, lamarin da ya sanya gwamnatin jihar samar da wata sabuwar cibiyar a Karamar Hukumar Tofa.

Ya ce za a samar da kayan aiki a sabuwar cibiyar tare da fara amfani da ita domin karbar mutanen da ke bukatar gyaran hali.

Ya kara da cewa rundunar tana tattaunawa da masu ruwa da tsaki a masana’antu domin samar da ayyukan yi da koyar da sana’o’i ga matasan da aka yi wa gyaran hali.

“Manufarmu ita ce mu kawar da matasa 10,000 daga tituna, mu yi musu gyaran hali, sannan mu koya musu sana’o’i, domin su koma cikin al’umma suna da cikakken ilimi, an gyara halayensu, kuma su zama mutanen da al’umma za ta amince da su,” in ji shi.

Muhuyi ya ce rundunar za ta ci gaba da hada matakan daukar doka da rigakafi, wayar da kan jama’a, gyaran hali da kuma sake shigar da wadanda aka gyara cikin al’umma.

Ya ce shirye-shiryen wayar da kan jama’a sun kai ga al’ummomi, makarantu, kasuwanni, cibiyoyin addini da sauran sassan jihar.

Ya danganta nasarorin farko da rundunar ta samu da hadin gwiwar hukumomin tsaro da na tabbatar da doka, wadanda suka hada da Hukumar Yaki da Sha da Fataucin Miyagun Kwayoyi ta Kasa (NDLEA), Rundunar ’Yan Sandan Najeriya, DSS, NSCDC, Hukumar Kwastam, Hukumar Kula da Gidajen Gyaran Hali, KOSSAP, Hisbah, KAROTA da kungiyoyin sa-kai.

Shugaban rundunar ya kuma bukaci mazauna jihar da su rika bayar da bayanai cikin gaggawa game da shaye-shayen miyagun ƙwayoyi, fataucinsu da sauran ayyukan laifuka masu alaka da su, domin hukumomi su samu damar daukar matakan da suka dace.

SolaceBase ta rawaito cewa Gwamna Abba Kabir Yusuf ya kaddamar da rundunar a ranar 22 ga Yuli, 2026, a wani bangare na kokarin gwamnatin jihar na dakile shaye-shayen miyagun ƙwayoyi da laifukan da ke da alaka da su a fadin Kano.

Muhuyi’s 60 Days: Kano Intensifies the Fight Against Drug Abuse

Sixty days into his leadership of the newly established Kano State Multi-Agency Task Force on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, Muhuyi Magaji Rimingado is leading an expanded campaign that increasingly moves beyond conventional arrests and raids to intelligence gathering, inter-agency coordination, prosecution, rehabilitation, and community engagement.

Since the task force was inaugurated in July, a succession of activities reported by SolaceBase has shown an administration attempting to confront drug abuse not only as a criminal justice problem but also as a public health, youth and social development challenge.

The task force’s activities have included raids on suspected drug hotspots, arrests and prosecution of suspects, cooperation with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the creation of specialised committees, plans to deploy artificial intelligence in tracking drug dealers and pharmaceutical sales, and proposals for rehabilitation centres across Kano’s three senatorial zones.Sports news

The breadth of the approach has also earned Muhuyi recognition from the NDLEA, which named him a War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) Ambassador in August, citing his efforts to promote inter-agency collaboration, public awareness, community mobilisation and coordinated action.Kano local news

The development is significant for Kano, where drug abuse has increasingly been associated with concerns about youth vulnerability, street crime, violence and social instability.

Muhuyi’s appointment came against the background of growing concern over the scale of drug abuse in the state.Government

A SolaceBase opinion published shortly before the task force’s inauguration cited the 2018 National Drug Use Survey, which estimated Kano’s prevalence at 16 per cent, representing about 1.07 million users.

The figures are historical rather than a current prevalence estimate, but they illustrate the scale of the problem that informed the government’s intervention.

After his appointment, Muhuyi quickly outlined a strategy that combined enforcement with intelligence, prevention, and rehabilitation.

One of the earliest indications of that approach came on August 3, when he announced plans to deploy artificial intelligence to track drug dealers and monitor pharmaceutical sales.

The proposed technology-driven system suggested that the task force intended to look beyond street-level enforcement and examine how drugs move through commercial and pharmaceutical channels.

SolaceBase reported the proposal as an initiative, meaning its announcement should be distinguished from evidence that the system had already become operational. The task force also moved to deepen cooperation with agencies already involved in the drug-control effort.

During a familiarisation visit to the NDLEA Kano Strategic Command in August, the agency pledged stronger collaboration with the task force. NDLEA officials stressed that the drug problem required an approach beyond arrests and seizures, including prevention, education and community engagement.Kano local news

That partnership subsequently produced institutional recognition when the NDLEA Zone 5 Command honoured Muhuyi as a WADA Ambassador.

Rather than presenting the recognition as proof that the drug problem had been solved, Muhuyi described it as a greater responsibility and stressed that no single agency or individual could win the war against drug abuse alone.

Another feature of Muhuyi’s first two months has been the attempt to give the task force an institutional structure.

On August 22, he inaugurated nine subcommittees charged with strengthening different aspects of the campaign against drug abuse and trafficking.

The development is important because a drug-control campaign that depends entirely on the activities of one chairman or periodic security operations is unlikely to become sustainable.

The broader structure envisaged by the task force includes intelligence, public sensitisation, community participation, enforcement, rehabilitation and coordination with other institutions.

The proposed Forward Operating Base is another part of that strategy. According to information gathered in September, preparations were underway for a mechanism where information concerning drug abuse, marketing, production and criminal hideouts could be received around the clock, including through call centres.

Again, this remains a planned mechanism rather than an established achievement, but it illustrates the direction in which the task force says it wants to move.

The enforcement side of the campaign has been extensive. The task force has reported more than 200 raids and more than 200 convictions within 45 days, with four mobile courts established to facilitate quicker prosecution.

The operations have also targeted particular hotspots and alleged supply networks.

One of the most prominent cases involves Yahuza Musa, a former chairman of Rogo Local Government Area, who was arrested following an undercover operation over allegations concerning the illegal sale and administration of fentanyl injections to young people.

Muhuyi said the investigation began after the task force arrested a young man whose hand had allegedly deteriorated severely following injections.

The young man allegedly identified Musa as the source of the substance, leading to the undercover operation and subsequent arrest.

Musa was charged under Section 249 of the Kano State Penal Code in connection with allegations involving harmful or intoxicating substances.Kano local news

The task force has demonstrated an interest in pursuing alleged suppliers through investigation and prosecution rather than limiting its operations to street-level users.

Perhaps the most consequential aspect of the new approach is the recognition that arrests alone cannot resolve Kano’s drug problem.Government

The task force has proposed a programme to rehabilitate 10,000 youths affected by drug abuse within one year.

The proposed programme would involve drug testing, detoxification and rehabilitation, followed by vocational training in areas including garment production, shoemaking, bag making, electrical work and solar technology.

The thinking behind the programme is straightforward: people trapped in substance abuse cannot simply be removed from the streets and expected to become productive without treatment, skills and an opportunity to rebuild their lives.

The proposed programme therefore attempts to distinguish between those who profit from drug trafficking and vulnerable people struggling with addiction.

That distinction is crucial. A trafficker deliberately supplying dangerous substances to young people presents a different challenge from a young person who has become dependent on those substances.

The first demands enforcement and prosecution; the second may require medical treatment, counselling, rehabilitation and economic reintegration. The task force’s proposed approach attempts to address both.

The rehabilitation strategy has also begun to take a geographical dimension. On September 4, SolaceBase reported that the task force was considering establishing ad-hoc centres across Kano North, Kano Central and Kano South to bring substance-abuse prevention and rehabilitation services closer to affected communities.Kano local news

The proposal emerged from discussions between the task force and the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Dawanau, and is intended to cover prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and community engagement.

The collaboration is significant because it places a health institution alongside security agencies in the response.

It also suggests that the task force is beginning to treat rehabilitation as a service that should be available within communities rather than something reserved for people already caught in the criminal justice system.

The human consequences of drug abuse have also featured prominently in the task force’s activities.

Among the cases reported during the period was the rescue of vulnerable children exposed to intoxicating substances and the prosecution of people accused of supplying such substances.

These cases underscore why the drug issue cannot be viewed solely through statistics on arrests and seizures.

Every arrest can represent a criminal case, but every affected young person also represents a family, a lost opportunity and potentially a future that could be recovered through timely intervention.

The experience of some families during the operations has also brought another dimension of the campaign into focus.

Some mothers were seen crying and pleading with Muhuyi after their sons were arrested, asking that their children be given another chance.

Their appeals highlight the difficult position of families confronting drug abuse. While parents may want authorities to take action against drug dealers and those who expose young people to harmful substances, they may also fear losing their own children to addiction, imprisonment or a life of crime.

This is why the rehabilitation and skills-acquisition component of the task force’s strategy is particularly important.

A young person who can be treated, rehabilitated, trained and returned to productive life represents not only an individual recovery but also relief for a family and a potential benefit to the wider community.

Muhuyi’s first 60 days have combined enforcement with institutional development in a way that has made the campaign highly visible.

His previous experience as chairman of the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission is part of the background to his appointment.

Before taking charge of the drug task force, he had become associated with investigations and enforcement in the anti-corruption sphere. SolaceBase reported that background when examining his appointment to lead the drug crackdown.

In his new role, that enforcement-oriented experience has been applied to a different problem.

The approach has so far combined raids with intelligence, prosecution with rehabilitation, and security operations with community mobilisation.

The AI proposal points towards technology, while the nine subcommittees point towards institutionalisation. The NDLEA partnership demonstrates a commitment to inter-agency coordination, while the three-zone rehabilitation proposal points towards decentralisation.

The 10,000-youth programme, meanwhile, reflects an emphasis on rehabilitation, skills development and reintegration.

Together, these initiatives suggest that the task force is trying to construct a system rather than simply conduct operations.

Parents must join the fight

For the campaign to achieve lasting results, however, the responsibility cannot rest on Muhuyi and government agencies alone.

Parents have an important role to play, particularly because they are often the first to notice changes in the behaviour of their children.

The scenes of mothers crying and pleading for their sons after arrests should also encourage families to become involved much earlier, before a young person reaches the point of arrest.

Parents should pay attention to sudden behavioural changes, new associations, unexplained spending, school absenteeism and other signs that may indicate that a child is becoming vulnerable to substance abuse.

Rather than waiting for security agencies to intervene, families should seek help from health professionals, counsellors, schools, religious institutions and other appropriate channels when they notice warning signs.

Schools also need to strengthen drug-awareness programmes, while religious and traditional leaders can use their platforms to educate young people and families about the dangers of substance abuse.

Communities, meanwhile, can support the task force by providing credible information about drug trafficking and distribution networks while allowing security agencies to conduct proper investigations.

The government should equally continue providing the resources needed for rehabilitation, treatment, intelligence gathering and public sensitisation.

The proposed rehabilitation centres across the three senatorial zones could be particularly valuable if properly funded and staffed by qualified professionals.

The planned 10,000-youth rehabilitation programme should also be supported with transparent monitoring, vocational equipment and opportunities for beneficiaries to become economically independent after treatment.

The fight against drug abuse should therefore not end with arrest or conviction. It should also create a pathway for vulnerable young people to recover, acquire skills and return to their families and communities as productive citizens.

Muhuyi’s first 60 days have put considerable energy behind Kano’s response to drug abuse.Government

The task force has moved from its inauguration to raids, arrests and prosecution while simultaneously building partnerships, establishing committees, exploring technology and developing plans for rehabilitation.

The NDLEA’s recognition of Muhuyi as a WADA Ambassador has further highlighted the emphasis being placed on collaboration and community mobilisation.

The proposed AI system needs to move from announcement to implementation. The intelligence and call-centre mechanism needs to become functional.

The proposed rehabilitation centres need adequate funding, qualified personnel and medical support. The 10,000-youth programme needs to be properly implemented and monitored.

Most importantly, parents and communities need to remain part of the campaign. Muhuyi’s first 60 days have demonstrated a clear willingness to confront drug abuse through both enforcement and broader social intervention.

The next phase should deepen that approach by strengthening rehabilitation, supporting families, expanding public enlightenment and ensuring that young people who can be helped are given a genuine opportunity to recover.

For Kano, the fight against drug abuse is ultimately a fight for its young people. And if government agencies, parents, communities, health institutions, schools, religious and traditional leaders continue to work together, the momentum generated in Muhuyi’s first 60 days can become the foundation for a sustained response to one of the state’s most pressing social challenges.

(SolaceBase)